Gaming machine

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a gaming machine adapted to accept a bet on one or more winning outcomes of a game of chance; and. pay winnings of the occurrence of a winning outcome carrying a bet; wherein, the machine is configured to accept a single bet that is less than the smallest denomination of local currency.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to gaming machines. The inventionhas been developed primarily for computerized gaming machines and willbe described herein with reference to that application. However, theinvention is not limited to that particular field of use and is suitablefor other applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Gaming machines have long been known and are now one of the mostcommon forms of gambling. Usually gaming machines will simulate a wellknown game of chance. One of the oldest and best known forms of gamingmachine is the rotating reel type “poker machine”. In light of itspopularity, the present invention will be described with reference tothis type of gaming machine. However it will be appreciated that it isequally applicable gaming machines other than the “rotating reel” type.Traditional poker machines use a series of three or more reels, eachreel having symbols on its peripheral edge. The reels are rotated uponthe placement of a bet and then stopped to produce an arrangement ofrandomly selected symbols. Winnings are paid if the random arrangementof symbols matches one of the predetermined winning combinations.

[0003] More recently, these gaming machines have been computerized witha video screen replacing the physically rotating reels. The displayscreen typically presents an array of symbols in five columns and threerows equating to the symbols that would normally be seen on the fivephysically rotating reels of an old style mechanical machine.

[0004] Gaming machines can “pay winnings” in a variety of ways. Theseinclude dispensing money, dispensing tokens that can be redeemed formoney, or simply adding credits to a credit meter that can be used forplacing future bets. or redeemed as money. Given the predominance ofcomputerized gaining machines, winnings are most commonly awarded in theform of credits tallied on a credit meter. In light of this, the presentinvention will be described with the specific reference to the paymentof winnings in this manner. However, those skilled in the art willreadily understand that the term encompasses other award paymentmechanisms.

[0005] Computerized machines have allowed players to bet on the symbolsappearing in one or more rows or diagonals instead of just the middlerow which was traditionally the only row available for betting on in theold style mechanical machines. Eventually, all the practical “pay lines”of symbols in the five column, three row array were being made availablefor players on most machines.

[0006] By allowing a bet on many different pay lines at one timeenhances the game experience because of the number of essentiallyseparate games on the one screen. However, players may be reluctant touse all available pay lines because the cost of placing a bet on eachline may be more than the player is comfortable betting at any one time(that is, any single operating cycle of the game). One variant of thisis used in the past is a gaming machine that attempts to obscure ordissociate the actually monetary value of bets placed by assigningmultiple credits for each minimum bet. For example, 5 cents in monetaryvalue buys 50 credits for betting on the gaming machine. The minimum betaccepted by the machine is 50 credits, however, to realize the actualmonetary value of any bets being placed, the player must first performthe appropriate credits to dollars conversion.

[0007] This technique is also used to emphasis or exaggerate the valueof any winnings by incrementally increasing the credit meter by numbersthat are relatively large compared to the actual monetary value of thewin. This is sometimes referred to in the field as the “pinball machineeffect” because of the positive sense of bonus associated with largenumbers scrolling onto the credit meter.

[0008] Despite this, players are soon familiar with the conversionbetween the monetary value of the minimum bet and the correspondingnumber of credits. Therefore, in time players will once again becomemindful of the actual cost of placing a bet on each of the available paylines and these costs may exceed a level with which they arecomfortable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided agaming machine which overcomes or ameliorates at least one of thedisadvantages of prior gaming machines, or to provides a usefulalternative.

[0010] Further, in accordance with the present invention, there isprovided a gaming machine comprising means adapted to accept a bet onone or more winning outcomes of a game of chance; and means adapted topay winnings on the occurrence of a winning outcome carrying a bet;wherein the machine is configured to accept a single bet that is lessthan the smallest denomination of local currency.

[0011] “Local currency is a reference to the monetary units in thecountry where the gaming machine is intended to be used. It is notnecessarily a reference to the monetary units of the country in whichthe gaming machine is manufactured.

[0012] Preferably, the machine will accept a bet that is one tenth thesmallest denomination of local currency. In other preferred forms, themachine will accept a bet that is one hundredth and one thousandth ofthe smallest denomination of local currency. In a particularly preferredform, the winnings paid on any bet that is less than the smallestdenomination of local currency, will always be greater than or equal tothe smallest denomination of local currency. In a still furtherpreferred form, the winnings paid are always divisible by the smallestdenomination of local currency without remainder.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the game of chanceinvolves randomly selected symbols arranged in an array displayed on avideo screen and the winning outcomes are particular winningcombinations of the symbols within the array. In a preferred aspect ofthis form, the array is rectangular and the machine is configured toaccept bets on the occurrence of any of the winning combinations ofsymbols along pay lines running through the array. The lines may also beangled or ‘zig zag’.

[0014] Recently, gaming machines have been developed that depart fromthe traditional five column, three row array of symbols. These machinescan display larger arrays of symbols or even two separate arrays ofsymbols. Of course, a larger array or two separate arrays will allow thegame designer to incorporate many additional pay lines. It will beappreciated that placing a bet on all available pay lines of a largerarray or two separate arrays will require the player to risk asignificant amount of money if the minimum bet is the smallestdenomination of the local currency. However, if the machine isconfigured in accordance with the present invention, the minimum bet maybe less than the smallest denomination of the local currency therebyencouraging players to bet on more, if not all, available pay lines.

[0015] By configuring the machine to accept a single bet of less valuethan the smallest denomination, the player can bet on a large number ofpay lines simultaneously for substantially less money. In this way theplayer can enjoy the experience of playing many pay lines for longerthan they would if their minimum bet had to be the smallest denominationof local currency. It also allows a player to place a single bet forless than the smallest denomination of local currency on only one payline. This can appeal to more conservative gamblers seeking a low levelof risk for each single operating cycle of the game.

[0016] These and other advantages will be apparent upon reading andunderstanding the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, byway of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the video screendisplay of a gaming machine configured in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1 which shows a schematic representation of thevideo screen display 10 of a gaming machine. The machine display shownis a “rotating reel” type poker machine. The player places a bet on theoccurrence of certain winning combinations of symbols in the fivecolumn, three row array displayed in the lower portion of the screen 30.The winning combinations and the corresponding winnings paid aretabulated in the score card shown at the top half of the screen 20. FIG.1 shows a generic or ‘blank’ game screen prior to the input of thevarious game details by the designer. Accordingly, the game name, thesymbols and the scorecard values are shown as blank and zerorespectively. However, in normal operation, the scorecard values wouldbe consistent with the designated probability of the associated winningcombination as well as the designated profit from the machine (that is,the set percentage of bets retained by the machine over time).

[0020] The machine is configured to accept separate bets on ninedifferent pay lines in the array. By playing all nine pay lines, thereis a greater chance of getting a winning combination. However, playingnine pay lines requires at least nine bets to be placed and this levelof betting may be uncomfortable for some players even if the machineaccepts the smallest denomination of local currency as a single bet. Byconfiguring the machine such that it will accept bets of less than thesmallest denomination of local currency, it is possible to play allavailable lines while maintaining a comfortable betting level for theplayer. This in turn tends to enhance the gaming experience as playingall lines increases the frequency of wins as well as the activity levelson the screen. This generates and maintains a higher level of playerinterest. The machine depicted in FIG. 1 is configured to assign 1000credits for every dollar, or ten credits per cent. Therefore, even ifthe minimum bet is set at five credits, the player can play all nine paylines for as little as 4.5 cents per spin of the reels.

[0021] Using gaming machines in accordance with the present invention,it is also possible to use an array of symbols that is larger than thetraditional five column, three row array. A larger array of symbolsmakes possible a larger number of pay lines available for betting. Bylowering the minimum acceptable bet, the player is able to play allavailable lines in a much larger array without departing from acomfortable betting level. Of course playing all available lines in alarge array significantly increases the frequency of wins and the amountof screen activity during the game.

[0022] Gaming machines according to the present invention will alsoallow some players to extend their gaming experience by playing the samenumber of lines or even a single line for a lower minimum bet. In thesecases, it is desirable to configure the scorecard so that every winningcombination of symbols wins enough credits to make a whole denominationof local currency without any remainder. If the scorecard is set suchthat it will not always provide enough credits to convert a bet of asingle credit into the equivalent of a whole denomination of localcurrency, the player can simply continue playing until sufficientcredits are accumulated, or all credits are deplete.

[0023] The present invention has been described herein by way of exampleonly. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown inthe specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive. Other features and aspects of this invention will beappreciated by those skilled in the art upon reading and comprehendingthis disclosure. Such features, aspects, and expected variations andmodifications of the reported results and examples are clearly withinthe scope of the invention where the invention is limited solely by thescope of the following claims.

What we claim is:
 1. A gaming machine comprising: means adapted toaccept a bet on one or more winning outcomes of a game of chance; andmeans adapted to pay winnings of the occurrence of a winning outcomecarrying a bet; wherein the machine is configured to accept a single betthat is less than the smallest denomination of local currency.
 2. Thegaming machine according to claim 1 wherein the game of chance involvesan array of randomly selected symbols and the winning outcomes arepredetermined winning combinations of symbols, and wherein the machineis adapted to accept a bet on the occurrence of any of the winningcombinations within the array.
 3. The gaming machine according to claim2 wherein the array is larger than five columns and three rows.
 4. Thegaming machine according to claim 1 wherein the machine will accept abet that is one tenth the smallest denomination of local currency. 5.The gaming machine according to claim 1 wherein the machine will accepta bet that is one hundredth the smallest denomination of local currency.6. The gaming machine according to claim 1 wherein the machine willaccept a bet that is one thousandth the smallest denomination of localcurrency.
 7. The gaming machine according to claim 1 wherein thewinnings paid on a bet that is less than the smallest denomination oflocal currency is greater than the smallest denomination of localcurrency.
 8. The gaming machine according to claim 5 wherein thewinnings paid are divisible by the smallest denomination of localcurrency without remainder.
 9. A method of operating a gaming machinehaving a display adapted to show separate sets of symbols, the methodcomprising the steps of: accepting a bet on one or more winning outcomesof a game of chance; and paying winnings of the occurrence of a winningoutcome carrying a bet; wherein the machine is configured to accept asingle bet that is less than the smallest denomination of localcurrency.
 10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the game of chanceinvolves an array of randomly selected symbols and the winning outcomesare predetermined winning combinations of symbols, and wherein themachine is adapted to accept a bet on the occurrence of any of thewinning combinations within the array.
 11. The method according to claim10 wherein the array is larger than five columns and three rows.
 12. Themethod according to claim 9 wherein the machine will accept a bet thatis one tenth the smallest denomination of local currency.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 9 wherein the machine will accept a bet that is onehundredth the smallest denomination of local currency.
 14. The methodaccording to claim 9 wherein the machine will accept a bet that is onethousandth the smallest denomination of local currency.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 9 wherein the winnings paid on a bet that is lessthan the smallest denomination of local currency is greater than thesmallest denomination of local currency.
 16. The method according toclaim 13 wherein the winnings paid are divisible by the smallestdenomination of local currency without remainder.